History of Manchester
The city of Manchester, otherwise known as The Queen City, is the largest city in New Hampshire with an approximate population of 180,000.
The first tribes that inhabited Manchester were the Pennacook Indians. Attracted to the gorgeous falls of the Merrimack in the now center of Manchester, they gathered at the edges to collect fish. They called the falls area “Namoskeag”, which means “lots of fish” in their native language. In 1722, John Goffe and a group of Presbyterians sailed up the river and found the falls. They decided it would be an excellent place to build a power supply. Settlers trickled into the Namoskeag (now called Amoskeag) Falls area from Massachusetts and the area was named Old Harry’s Town. The town changed hands, and as a result, changed names to Tyngstown, and then to Derryfield once it became a part of the State of New Hampshire in 1751.
Due to the commanding height of the falls, a number of companies moved up to the Derryfield area. A developer, Samuel Blodgett, drew up plans to develop a canal to allow boats to travel up the falls and further north. He also wanted to capitalize on the sheer power the falls generated and turn the area into a prosperous industrial site. Therefore, since Manchester was the first industrialized city in England, Blodget got an idea to pay homage to the elder city by renaming Derryfield Manchester. His suggestion became reality in 1810. At around the same time, a cotton spinning mill was formed on the banks, and the manufacturing of textiles opened up a number of jobs. In 1831, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company – which owned the mill and a number of others – was the largest textile manufacturing plant in the world, with a 900 foot mill, 4,000 looms and 700,000 spindles.
The new company needed to employ 17,000 people to prosper. Around the mills, city planners were called to action to build an urban community for the workers and those that supported them. A grid layout was planned, with Elm Street being the main artery and other tree-named streets running parallel. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company – since it was, by far, the primary employer in the city – responsibly built the necessary services for its employees. This included hospitals, schools and homes which are still used in recent years.
Manchester grew steadily through the turn of the 20th century, and took its first severe hit after the Depression. Six years after the great stock market crash of 1929, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company went bankrupt. Luckily, the company was bailed out and renamed Amoskeag Industries. The business was reorganized and new markets were tapped. Even though the mill was never quite the same, it still exists today at the giant Amoskeag falls. Many old mill buildings have been converted to riverside living spaces and offices. The city has seen a rebirth with the changing economy, including a new entertainment arena and a revitalized downtown.
Economy of Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire, upon its inception, was a mill town. It held that reputation for many years. But it suffered a blow to its economy in the mid 20th Century, and has since been changing.
As described in the previous section, the hero of Manchester’s economy in the 19th century was textile manufacturing, particularly from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. When the 20th century progressed and the Great Depression hit, Manchester took a very significant blow. Since the change in the city’s major economy, there have been multiple changes to the city of Manchester. Nevertheless, as times change, Manchester has changed, and today Manchester is a bustling, modern city that still has an historic atmosphere.
Today, over 200 manufacturing companies make their home in Manchester. The city may seem small, but the population of New Hampshire is equally small and is proud to have a city like Manchester. Manchester is the center of finance, insurance and commerce in the state. In addition, as a city that’s close to Boston but not as big, it offers development opportunities to new firms that cater to people who have already settled in Boston but don’t prefer the heavy city life.
Manchester has one of the most user-friendly airports within a 150 mile radius. If you are travelling to places that are north of Boston, many people would recommend that you fly into Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. It’s easily accessible and cheap.
Manchester Attractions
The history of Manchester has always been one of the largest draws to the area. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company buildings still stand but have been converted to homes and shops. Elm Street continues to be a wonderful place to wander down, look at the unique stores and have a good meal. Shopping itself could be a great reason to visit Manchester because of its lack of sales tax. The Mall of New Hampshire in nearby Bedford has over 100 stores and restaurants to explore.
The NH arts scene is anchored by Manchester. One of the best places to catch a show is the Palace Theatre, which has been around long enough that it was the premier place in the state to catch a vaudeville show. The popular New Hampshire Symphony also performs regularly in the city and features many international artists. The Currier Museum is one of the best collections of art around and features a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Finally, for the sports fan, New Hampshire’s beloved Fisher Cats put on a very exciting baseball game. They play regularly in the summer at Riverfront Stadium.
More Information about Manchester